FILM OPENING ANALYSIS

Q. What do you think makes an effective "film opening"?  

- The major elements that contribute to the effectiveness of a "film opening" are the title, genre, music, and narrative.

"The Lord of The Rings : The Fellowship of The Ring"

Title : The title of any film carries great significance. The title sets the mood and tone for the movie along with establishing expectations for the audience ; A compelling and intriguing title can immediately grab the audience's attention. It initiates a contact with the audience and can create curiosity about the film. The title also often contains hints about the genre, mood, or theme of the film. This helps in setting the audience's expectations and prepares them for the experience ahead. In the above example, we see the title being displayed first "The Lord of The Rings" this instantly gives the audience a glimpse into what the film is going to be about. It sets the tone for the rest of the film. 

Genre : The genre of a film serves as a blueprint for the creative decisions made in the opening scenes. It  ensures that the film effectively communicates it's message with its intended audience and delivers a cohesive and satisfying cinematic experience. The genres explored in "The Lord of The Rings" are fantasy fiction, adventure fiction and heroic fiction. The choice of music and sound design is also influenced by the genre of the film. A more dystopian film would contain more ominous and other-worldly music.

Music : The scene begins as non-diegetic music plays over the narration of the narrator. The music is quite suspenseful and almost eerie. It creates the overall mood of the movie and also foreshadows the mood throughout the movie. The almost unsettling music layers with the narration in the opening scene, as it reflects the mood being created by the story being told. The narrator talks about the history of the ring and how it's impacted the lives of those who own it, the ominous tale compliments the eerie soundtrack. 

Narrative : An effective film opening captures the audience's attention and engages them in the narrative. A compelling story or an intriguing setup from the beginning encourages viewers to invest in the film. The introduction of conflicts, challenges, or obstacles in the opening scenes sets the stage for the central conflicts that will drive the plot. In the above opening scene of "The Lord of The Rings" we hear the narrator providing the audience with a brief history of the ring and information around it, with visuals to aid the narration. This narration in the very beginning of the film hooks the audience and captures their attention ; it also provides them with the major crux of the film and what to expect it to revolve around.